Safety-stirrup.



19i I'M zoom T. B. RILEY. SAFETY $TIRRUP.

APPLIGATlON FILED OUT. 23, 1907.

m: NORRIS PETERS C0,, wAsr-mvurnrl, v. c.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

SMAJe/wfoz THOMAS B. RILEY, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

SAFE TY-STIRRUP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1908.

Application filed October 23, 1907. Serial No. 398,838.

To all whom it may concern.

' Be it known that I, THoMAs B. RILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety-Stirrups, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stirrups, the ob ject in view being to provide a stirrup of such construction that when danger presents itself, the rider may by an unusual or dextrous movement of his foot open up the stirrup so as to quickly release his person therefrom.

With the above general object in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stirrup embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof, showing the stirrup closed in full lines, and open in dotted lines.

The stirrup contemplated in this invention is of the general form but in carrying out the present invention the opposite side bars 1 are made of spring metal so that the lower disconnected ends thereof may readily spring apart when occasion admits. The side bars 1 are connected at their upper ends by the usual hanger bar 2 and may be further connected by a set pin 3 arranged under the hanger bar 2 and parallel therewith.

The foot rest 4 or that portion of the stirrup upon which the foot is placed is pivotally connected at one end as shown at 5 to the lower extremity of one of the side bars 1, while the lower extremity of the opposite side bar 1 is provided with a socket 6 in which theopposite end of the foot rest 4 is received and held as shown by full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. It may here be stated that the side bars 1 have a normal tendency to spring inward or toward each other and sustain themselves sufliciently close together to maintain the interlocked engagement between the foot rest 4 and the side bar 1 of the stirrup which has the socket 6 in which the extremity of the foot rest is received. It will be observed, however, that by springing the side bars apart as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the free end of the foot rest 4 will slip out of the socket 6 and fall downward as also indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

In order to insure the springing apart of the side bars at the proper time I provide a trip or spreader which consists of a toe piece 7 preferably curved or arched slightly as shown, and arranged at a suitable distance above the foot rest 4 to insure its being removed by the toe of the rider when he tilts his foot from the normal position. The toe piece 7 is pivotally connected at its opposite end as shown at 8, to a pair of links or arms 9 which at their opposite or outer ends are fastened to the spring side bars 1 of the stirrup.

It will now be understood that when the rider gives a twist or cant to his foot the toe piece 7 is moved upward causing it to act on the arms or links 9 and force the side bars 1 away from each other. This releases the foot rest 4 which drops downward, opening up the stirrup and releasing the foot of the rider.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1 A stirrup embodying y ieldable side bars, a foot rest attached by a permanent pivotal connection at one end to one of the side bars and having an interlocked engagement at its opposite end with the other side bar, and a foot operated trip interposed between the side bars and adapted to be moved by the riders foot to spread the side bars apart and allow the foot rest to swing on its pivotal connection.

2. A stirrup embodying yieldable side bars, a foot rest interposed between the side bars and normally held in engagement therewith, and a spreader for forcing the side bars apart to release the foot rest, said spreader comprising a toe piece and arms or links connecting said toe piece with the side bars of the stirrup, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS E. RILEY. l/Vitnesses ANDREW M. SHEEHAN, Gno. E. SI-IAFER. 

